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The Lord sent in people who had a mind to work and build the
House of God. The first meeting was probably held in the new
building the last of August, 1942. Reverend T.T. Lewis was
called to be the first pastor of the church and was there five
months. Mr. Lewis began preaching in the church by using a large
oil drum for a pulpit stand until one was build. Ernest Warwick
was called and pastored for six months. The Lord had called Mr.
Spencer to preach about five years before, but he was trying to
do everything but preach. He was the first deacon and also the
first Sunday School Superintendent of Highland Church. After he
became obedient to the call God had given him, the church called
him as their pastor and he was ordained July 4, 1943. He
pastored for five years until God called from House Mountain
Church. He went there as their pastor and after three years at
House Mountain Church, Highland called again and he pastored for
another three years.
  There has been
many a problem and many hills to climb and many valleys, but God
has been with the church through them all. And the mountain tops
have been so wonderful, you forget the valleys and press on to
the mark of the High calling in our blessed Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ who is the head of the church and also knowing our
labor is not in vain in the Lord, I Chronicles 28:20, And David
said to Solomon his son, be strong and of good courage and do
it; fear not nor be dismayed; for the Lord God even my God will
be with thee, he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until
thou hast finished all work for the service of the house of the
Lord.
Philippians
1:6 Being confident of this very thing that he which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ. Ephesians 5:27, That he might present it to himself a
glorious church not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing,
but that it should be holy and without blemish. Revelation
14:13, And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from
henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from
their labours, and their works do follow them.
On Sunday, December 10,
1967, the members of Highland Baptist Church, dedicated the
brand new Church building to service for Jesus Christ. See
picture below of old and new Church buildings. The article was
published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on Saturday, December
9th, 1967.
On November 2,
1975, Highland Baptist Church received a new pastor. The
church had just come through a very trying time and many
problems had entered the church. Satan is always on the
job and he is seeking whom he may devour. The first Sunday
that Charlie Lynch preached to our church there were 36 persons
attending Sunday School. Satan thought that he had destroyed
another church and the name of Christ would become less
effective in our community. But through the prayers of
God's people, and the power of the everlasting God, --(My God
Delivers Again).
After just a few
weeks the Holy Spirit began to work in the hearts of his people
and changes began to happen. Lives were changed and the church
began to rise from it's past troubles and go on for
Christ. The first year the Bro. Charlie served as pastor
the church received 128 new members, 36 of those were by
Baptism.
 Since those days the Lord has blessed
our church more than could ever be numbered. A new fellowship
building was built in 1976. The Lord made a way that we
could pay off the church loan two or three years later. Many
other things have been accomplished for the Lord and we have
learned that all things do work together for good to them that
love God. We just thank the Lord for what He has done.
The greatest thing
that we rejoice about is the lives that the Lord has added to
our church. We feel that every person was sent our way the
the Lord Jesus Christ. In the past seven years the Lord has
blessed us with 128 new members by Baptism and 190 members by
letter or statement.
We are proud of our
past, because we can look back and see that Christ was always
there to help us. By looking back and seeing what God has done
we can look to the future and go with assurance that Christ will
never leave us or forsake us.
Thank you Jesus for loving
us, and not giving up on us when everyone else had.
Click
here for very early church minutes
Click here for record of
Ministers
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